In today’s era, TWS or true wireless earbuds have taken the place of wired earphones. However, with so many brands and models on the market, you need to keep a few important things in mind to choose the right earbuds for yourself. So, let’s go over the factors you should keep in mind and what to look for when buying wireless earbuds.
. The first important factor is sound quality and audio codecs.
The main job of earbuds is to provide you with good sound, which primarily depends on the audio codec and the size of the driver.
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An audio codec essentially determines how audio will be transmitted from your phone to the earbuds via Bluetooth. While SBC is sufficient for general use, for better audio you should definitely check if it supports Apple’s AAC and Android’s aptX, aptX HD, or LDAC.
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Secondly, driver size. A larger driver usually means better bass and a more powerful sound, but it’s not enough just to have a big driver. The sound balance is also crucial, which depends on the tuning of the software and hardware.
The second thing to check is Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency Mode.
This ANC feature is extremely important when listening to music, concentrating on something, or talking to someone while on the street, on a bus, or in a noisy office.
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What is ANC, essentially? ANC stands for Active Noise Cancellation. It blocks unwanted sounds, like car engines or AC noise, giving you a peaceful audio experience. Currently, premium headphones can block up to 90 percent of external noise.
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In transparency mode, for instance, if you’re talking to someone while crossing the street or you’re on the phone but need to hear what’s going on outside, using transparency mode will be incredibly helpful. You’ll then be able to hear both the external sounds and your earbuds clearly at the same time.
Bluetooth Version and Connectivity.
The Bluetooth version is a very important factor for your audio latency and connection range. A stable connection largely depends on the Bluetooth version.
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You should choose earbuds with Bluetooth versions 5.2, 5.3, or 5.4. If a higher version is available, you can get those, which is even better.
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Multipoint connectivity. With this feature, you can connect the same pair of earbuds to a phone, laptop, and other devices simultaneously. If you’re watching a movie on your laptop and a call comes in on your phone, you can switch to the phone. Features like these will be convenient for you.
And the fourth important factor is battery life and charging.
It’s extremely important to know how long your earbuds will last on a single charge. A single full charge can typically provide five to eight hours of backup. However, battery life may decrease slightly if ANC is enabled.
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Charging case. You should definitely know the total playtime with the charging case. Many earbuds can provide 24 to 40 hours of backup with the case.
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You should also check if it has fast-charging capabilities, so that a 10-minute charge provides several hours of backup. Pay attention to this.
Comfort and proper fit.
If the earbuds are not comfortable to wear in your ears, you won’t be able to keep them in for long, and their features will be of no use to you. Earbuds are available in the market in various designs, with or without silicone tips. So you should choose the one that is best for your ears. In my opinion, the ones with silicone are more useful and comfortable, as they come with many different sizes of silicone tips.
Fourth, call quality.
When you’re talking to someone or on a call, it’s very important how they hear your voice and how you hear theirs, and how clear it is. Or, if you’re in a noisy environment, it’s crucial to know if the person on the other end can hear you clearly.
You should also check the rating for the earbuds’ water and dust resistance.
Check the brand’s app support and ecosystem by Googling or watching YouTube.
So before buying earbuds, be sure to keep these points in mind—you’ll enjoy buying and using them.
